Plastic pollution is one of the defining legacies of our modern way of life, but it is now so widespread it is even finding its way into fruit and vegetables as they grow.
Microplastics have been found in the land, sea and air, across the food chain and throughout the human body.
What Are Implications of Microplastic Pollution on Food Chains?
Simplified microplastic entry pathways and uptake points in terrestrial and aquatic environments. © Wasser 3.0.
Microplastics have become a ubiquitous pollutant in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. They’ve been detected everywhere from artic ice to deep sea sediments, in fresh (raw) milk, and in the tissues of domesticated animals.
Tiny bits of plastic waste have found their way to the farthest corners of the planet — from the deepest ocean trenches to the Arctic Circle. But, pervasive plastic pollution also hits much closer to home: in the water we drink and the food we eat. In this episode of “Trial & Error,” we actually isolate some of the plastics lurking in popular seafood, and take some guesses as to where they may have come from.
51 Trillion particles of microplastics float in our oceans. Yet there is very little science of how this affects our health. This video shows why we should gain back control over plastic in our lives.
Recently, there's been increasing interest in the effects of microplastics pollution. Media reports have examined microplastics pollution, especially in the marine environment, and possible contamination of the food supply.
Microplastics may enter the food chain by being directly eaten by marine animals but can also adhere to the surface of micro-organisms that form the prey for higher levels of the food chain, such as fish.